With POE currency bringing significant changes to the game, it's the perfect time to explore new builds and set your sights on top-tier playstyles. In today's guide, we'll cover three of the best builds for this version of the game, each with a detailed breakdown of their mechanics, strengths, weaknesses, gear recommendations, skill trees, and more. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting, these builds will offer the flexibility and power to tackle the toughest content in Path of Exile. Let's dive in!

1. Poisonous Concoction (Chaos-based Projectile Build)

Overview:

The Poisonous Concoction build is a projectile-based chaos damage over time (DoT) build that allows you to melt enemies quickly while maintaining a fluid playstyle. The key mechanics revolve around throwing explosive flasks that deal AoE chaos damage, which also applies poison stacks that deal consistent damage over time.

This build is incredibly low maintenance and easy to play once you set it up, as it revolves around just a few active buttons-right-click to throw potions and some optional triggers for defensive abilities. The Pathfinder ascendancy offers permanent flask uptime, making this build highly reliable for both mapping and bossing content.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

 Simple and fluid gameplay with high movement and attack speed.

 Great for mapping with solid AoE coverage.

 Easy to scale with a low-maintenance playstyle.

 Capable of reaching the damage over time cap, making it strong for endgame bosses.

 Solid defenses via shield, making it tanky against damage.

Cons:

 Requires some focus for prolonged boss fights.

 Flask uptime may vary with the Trickster ascendancy.

 Mana reservation can be tight, especially early on.

Key Mechanics:

The Poisonous Concoction build is based on chaos damage dealt via flasks that apply poison stacks. This damage over time (DoT) is enhanced by gems like Unbound Elements, Vicious Projectiles, and Greater Volley to improve AoE spread and single-target performance.

Additionally, the build benefits from scaling attack speed, area of effect, and duration to increase the effectiveness of poison application.

The build can be played by alternating between movement and flask throws, allowing you to navigate through maps quickly while dealing massive damage. Using frenzy charges and converting them into affliction charges enhances both your offensive and defensive stats.

Gear Recommendations:

The Poisonous Concoction build relies heavily on flask uptime and charge generation. Some of the most important gear choices include:

 Raales Impatience (Amulet): Grants maximum frenzy charges and eliminates the need to actively maintain them, unlocking the build's real power.

 Replica Badge of the Brotherhood (Belt): Converts frenzy charges into affliction charges, effectively doubling your poison output and giving you powerful defense.

 Restless Ward (Boots): Helps extend charge duration and improves charge generation, ensuring that you're constantly benefiting from your charge effects.

 Vowering Diadem (Helmet): Alleviates mana issues, allowing you to comfortably run your aura setup.

 Precursor Emblem (Ring): Grants 10% chance to gain a frenzy charge on hit, helping you maintain charges throughout the battle.

Skill Tree & Passive Points:

The skill tree for this build is optimized to maximize poison damage and charge generation. Focus on increased attack speed, movement speed, and duration to improve poison uptime. Investing in frenzy charge generation is crucial to amplifying your overall damage and defensive stats.

At level 71 and beyond, coordinate your gear, passive points, and gems according to the specific builds that will help you scale effectively in endgame content.

2. Righteous Fire (Melee Damage Build)

Overview:

The Righteous Fire build is a high-durability, high-clear-speed build designed for players who want a combination of damage over time and tankiness. This build takes advantage of fire damage over time, utilizing Righteous Fire to burn enemies while simultaneously maintaining high resistances and life regeneration.

This build is ideal for players looking for a league-starter that can scale all the way to the endgame without compromising defenses or damage output. The Chieftain ascendancy excels at boosting fire damage and resistances, making this build capable of taking on the toughest encounters in red maps and beyond.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

 Incredible clear speed thanks to Righteous Fire and its synergy with Chieftain ascendancy.

 Tanky and durable, with high fire resistance and solid recovery.

 Great for beginners due to its straightforward mechanics.

 Excellent for both mapping and endgame content.Cons:

 Requires a high fire resistance base to be effective.

 Recovery may be slow until you build up maximum fire resistance.

 Relying on Righteous Fire can be a bit tricky at first as it damages you as well.

Key Mechanics:

The Righteous Fire build revolves around the Righteous Fire aura, which burns both you and your enemies. The goal is to stack as much fire resistance as possible, allowing you to benefit from high life regeneration while your enemies suffer from the burn. The Chieftain ascendancy makes this build shine by providing fire damage bonuses and scaling fire resistance.

In boss fights, use Punishment and Fire Trap to enhance your single-target damage. Flame Dash and Shield Charge offer mobility, while Flesh and Stone and Tempest Shield provide defense and utility.

Gear Recommendations:

For the Righteous Fire build, the gear needs to focus on fire damage, life regeneration, and fire resistance:

 Helmet: An Elder base with burning damage and concentrated effect is ideal. Upgrading to the Arch Demon Crown will further boost your gem levels.

 Amulet: Look for life, fire damage over time multiplier, and resistances. The Turo's Jade or Marble Amulet bases are perfect.

 Chest: The Cloak of Flame is optimal for mitigating physical damage. Alternatives like Lightning Coil can work if you balance your resistances.

 Gloves: Opt for pure armor bases with high life regeneration, chaos resistance, and dexterity.

 Boots: Ensure 30% movement speed, high life, and regeneration. The Annihilation Approach is a solid endgame option.

Skill Tree & Passive Points:

The Righteous Fire skill tree focuses on high life, fire damage scaling, and fire resistance. Armor and block chance are prioritized to ensure that you can withstand the self-inflicted damage from Righteous Fire.

 Key nodes: Burning Damage, Life, Elemental Resistances.

 Focus on Marauder and Templar areas for strength and fire scaling.

3. Archmage Vortex (Spell-based Damage Build)

Overview:

The Archmage Vortex build revolves around casting fast, powerful spells with the help of Archmage and Vortex. This build uses a high-cast-speed setup that melts through screens with ease. The synergy with Vortex of Projection and Frostbolt allows for massive area coverage and boss damage.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

 Incredibly high clear speed and powerful single-target damage.

 Fast-paced and fluid playstyle that is highly responsive.

 Great for mapping and bossing due to fast spell casting.

 Responsive mobility through high evasion and spell suppression.

Cons:

 High skill ceiling, as it requires good positioning and timing.

 Mana management can be tricky without proper gear.

Key Mechanics:

The core of the Archmage Vortex build revolves around the Archmage support gem, which converts mana into spell damage. This allows you to scale your spell output without relying heavily on flat damage bonuses. Vortex is the main skill used to deal damage, and when paired with Frostbolt, it offers massive AoE coverage.

Gear Recommendations:

Key gear choices include mana regeneration, cast speed, and spell damage:

 Weapon: Dual Profane Wand with mana regeneration and spell damage.

 Chest: Necratic Armor for high spell damage and defense.

 Gloves: Algar Mortise gloves to boost damage when enemies are in the chilling ground.

Skill Tree & Passive Points:

The Archmage Vortex skill tree should focus on spell damage, cast speed, and mana regeneration. Key nodes include critical strike chance, mana scaling, and spell suppression for added defense.

Conclusion:

In buy POE currency, the Poisonous Concoction, Righteous Fire, and Archmage Vortex builds are some of the most effective setups for high damage and survivability. These builds allow for flexibility and scalability, whether you're tackling early content or pushing into endgame bosses.

Choose the one that fits your playstyle, and enjoy the thrill of melting enemies with poison, fire, or spells in this latest expansion.